26*8 
DATE TREE. 
injures the tree; so much so, that we are assured 
the trees frequently decay, and that on this account 
they choose the old ones which have almost done 
bearing. 
A considerable trade is carried on with dates in 
the interior parts of the country, and great quan- 
tities are exported to different parts of Europe. 
The crop is gathered about the end of November, 
and the bunches hung up in a dry place. The 
Senegal dates are shorter than those of Egypt, but 
are said to be superior in flavour to the best dates 
of the Levant. 
